Ballpark Panos #3: Safeco Field (now T-Mobile Park)

 

Tough to show panoramic shots online as the format is not correct for these shots but this is a big pano from Seattle's Safeco Field, an excellent place to watch a ballgame--even though it is now called T-Mobile Park. Love the views from all over the stadium. Great field to visit. 

Wrigley Field

 

Next up in the series of pole-to-pole shots is Wrigley Field with the Cubs hosting my Chicago White Sox. The Nuveen sign, which is no longer there, is prominently located in left field. This shot was taken back in 2019 and the sign lasted until after the Cubs World Series. This is the game where former Cub, Eloy Jimenez had a breakout game with two massive home runs to put the Sox over the Cubs, 3-1. 

US Cell....err, Great Rate Field

 

Of course I have a baseball pano from Great Rate Field, this shot taken back in 2016. Nice looking ballpark. Number 2 of my baseball panos. 

Clio's Turn

 

One of the joy's of our lives. Happy Birthday, Clio. Have a great day and a wonderful year!!!

Baseball Park Panorama's -- Safeco Field

Way back in 2010, when I took this shot, it occurred to me that I should take a panorama of all the baseball parks that I attend. Eventually, it morphed into taking a pano of all the baseball parks. Now, I haven't been totally diligent on this project as there are a few parks left to cover (and frankly, I have lost track of which parks I am still missing). So, I thought I would find these shots in my catalog, organize them and see what shots I still need. So, this is park one, Safeco Field in Seattle, where I got the idea. This shot was taken back in 2010, with the Mariners playing Oakland (where I haven't been and maybe I won't go as the team is moving to Las Vegas). Anyway, here is shot one. Let the count begin. 

Venus and the Moon

 

Venus decided to go and visit the Moon from our perspective here on Earth. If you put Venus in binoculars or a telescope, would it look like? Would you see a circle or some other shape? As it turns out, Venus has phases from our point of view, just like the Moon. Being in the same part of the sky tonight, they would mirror each other. Pretty cool to see. Grab binoculars and check it out tonight. 

Cheryl at IBC

 

Going through some old time shots from when I was the photo editor of the college newspaper, The Torch. This one is of Cheryl in 1977 or 1978 at the campus of IBC in Lisle. I developed and printed this in the college darkroom in the basement of old Jaeger Hall. We now only live about 15 minutes from there. Wonderful shot and great memories. 

Going through some old pictures with Topaz AI Enhance

 

This was a very blurry and faded shot from around 1978 or so of Cheryl and me at Illinois Benedictine College. I ran it through Topaz AI Clear and the AI really sharpened up the shot although it messed with our faces a bit too much. Here is the original shot below. When the AI gets better, it is really going to save a lot of old time shots. It will also mess with reality. I haven't yet tried the new Photoshop AI. It is supposed to be a game changer. Anyway, great shot of Cheryl and me on a cold winter's day. 

Swampy Belted Kingfisher

 

Although this shot was taken two years earlier, this Belted Kingfisher was recorded at the same swamp that I shot the spooky shot that was posted yesterday. This turned out to be an excellent catch for me as I have only seen this bird two times since I started birding. Very cool bird. I think this is the female which has more color than the male, unusual for birds where the male is usually the more colorful one of the pair. 

Spooky Swamp

 

There is a great hike in the Indiana Dunes State Park (which is wrapped inside the Indiana Dunes National Park--and that has nothing to do with the separate fee you have to pay), that takes you on a boardwalk over a wonderful swamp. I really like this hike as it is not challenging and gives a wonderful perspective on this ecosystem. Only about 3 miles long in total and the swamp is just a small part. The morning I hit the trail earlier this spring, it was foggy, as you can see, which made for some wonderful shots. 

Abbey Road on the River

 

My buddy Bill and I got to see over a dozen of the 30 or so Beatles cover bands that played Memorial Day weekend at the Abbey Road on the River festival near Louisville. This was the 21st year and I had never heard of this festival before. What an amazing experience!!! We saw bands from all over the world doing Beatles and other covers. Bands from Bolivia, Finland, Liverpool, Cleveland and musicians, like Tony Kishman, who played Paul on Broadway, do Live and Let Die and songs from the Wings catalog. We saw two of the best George Harrison cover bands (not pictured) doing George songs. We saw young Beatles, older Beatles and just amazing all-around musicians. Some of the bands did Queen, the Doors, and we got to see the last surviving Monkey, Mikey Dolenz. If you like live music, you have to put this on your list. Hope to go again next year. 

Dash for Detection

 

It has been a couple of years since I have done a summer outdoor 5k but with 10 days serious training under my belt, I was able to complete the grueling 3.1 mile run. (Ok, maybe a bit of an exaggeration.) It was for a good cause to support early detection of pancreatic cancer which took my cousin Colleen way to early. Joe Davern, Jr and I showed up along with Stephen Davern and family. Next year we have to get more to join in for the walk part at least. Anyway, a good time for a good cause.  

Wiliam's Turn

 

William has had quite a week. I don't think I have ever had a week like this. He graduated the 8th grade and was awarded the Director's award (given to the top band student in the school), led the Memorial Day parade as drum major, got a $250 scholarship to use for this summer's band camp and got to play with the Naperville Municipal Orchestra as the selected student from Scullen Middle School. Wow. That is a lot of honors in one week. Plus, he is the greatest kid, so loving to his brother and family. Can't wait to see what he does next. 

A Taylor Swift experience

 

Yes, it is true. We got to see Taylor Swift at Soldier Field. However, it was on June 3rd, 2018, not last night. Clio will have to see Taylor live on in her memories. Couldn't stomach ticket prices into the $2,000 range and higher. If we had that same Nuveen box we had in 2018, we could have financed several years of Clio's college bill in this year's secondary market. I do remember that Taylor put on quite a show, as is being reported with this tour. Purva and family were also in the box. Much fun was had by all. 

A Brittlebush among the Prickly Pears

 

With a name like Brittlebush, it makes sense to grow around the Prickly Pears. It is quite a nice garden bush, a hardy perennial per Google, but I found this one out in the desert in Saguaro National Park several years ago.